Dozens arrested after RATM; Welcoming Committee "to unmask" at 10 AM!

Important: All media are invited to visit the Convergence Center at 10 AM @ 627 Smith Avenue, wherein the Welcoming Committee has announced they will "unmask" themselves and even grant media interviews. http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/sep/rnc-welcoming-committee-unmask-...
A huge moment in what has actually been - in some respects - one gigantic public relations battle.

Local journalists take note: even though the constant abuse against journalists has been relatively under-reported by you people, FreePress.net has gathered 50,000 signatures to dump on Mayor Coleman sometime Thursday morning, demanding all charges against journalists be dropped. The harassment continued Wednesday, and yet the usual reporters have not really put any context onto this pivotal story. Shame!

Additionally, clear examples of media manipulation - PSYOPS - as innocent arrestees tonight were paraded in front of TV cameras and then released. Same as those fake TV military analysts; you guys are pawns in the Public Relations scheme - at least you'll get paychecks on Friday, eh? (see http://twitter.com/webster for a media arrestee stunt, made to order for the cameras)

Thursday's events:
* Jail vigil continues under harassment: http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/aug/jail-vigil-and-arrestee-support
* http://www.yawr.org : Student walkout against the war criminals: http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/aug/student-strike-against-rnc-marc...
11 AM WALK OUT OF CLASS, 12 PM ANTIWAR RALLY, FESTIVAL AND THEATRE @ STATE CAPITOL
Youth Against War and Racism is calling for a massive student walkout on September 4, the last day of the RNC, followed by a festival of resistance and a huge theatric march to "arrest the war criminals."
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=15454797647 and http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2812201110&ref=ts . 651-210-5342 | against.war@gmail.com | http://myspace.com/yawrMN

* 1 PM Peace Picnic on Harriet Island - yum! http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/aug/peace-island-picnic-harriet-island (correction: it is NOT at noon)
* 4 PM March @ State Capitol: Anti-War Committee sponsors No peace for the war makers: http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/aug/no-peace-war-makers-protest-day...
* 7:30 PM Ralph Nader Super Rally @ Orchestra Hall feat. Cindy Sheehan, Nellie McKay, Jesse Ventura, David Rovics . Sure to be entertaining, however ballots will still be rigged against independents & no airtime will be provided. http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/sep/open-debates-rally-ralph-nader-...
* 7 PM Scott Ritter Iran Talks out in Wayzata http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/aug/scott-ritter-iran-talks-1 . Thanks for yr efforts to stave off the warmongers!
* 7:30 PM Mental Health & Decompression sessions @ Sisters Camelot http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/sep/peer-support-group-decompressio... Thanks, this whole police state has been stressful.

Notes for Wednesday:
* More intimidation from riot cops at exit from Ramsey County detention. Reportedly, there is a large Minnesota National Guard presence there with checkpoints, an unprecedented militarization. We are hearing of extreme detainee abuses.
* The RATM show resulted in dozens of arrests (Coldsnap confirms 31 @ 2:30 AM), as well as a photo of some ridiculous 6-wheeled ATV that can apparently fire tear gas: http://twitpic.com/a609 - how much money are they blowing on this kind of garbage? (This is how Bernie Kerik type guys make money - selling stupid homeland security products like this). Why the hell did they decide to bottle up the whole area with riot cops? Another great decision.
* Our friends were able to expose undercover cops at the Tuesday Poor People's March, which seemed infested with provocateurs. Impressive! http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/sep/interview-undercover-infiltrato...
* The Dakota were able to hang onto their Coldwater Springs area all day; there was some police harassment purportedly because campfires are Teh Bad.
* Our Twitter feed @ http://twitter.com/tcimc has been helpful for staying apprised of events.
* Another great SubMedia video dispatch http://twincities.indymedia.org/videos/2008/sep/submedia-dnc-dispatch-5

Events moved around:
* In our events calendar Events have been moved: Our events calendar locked up with many things @ "NOW" which was true but stopped the information flow. Of particular interest, Student Convergence for Thursday:
http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/aug/rnc-student-convergence
8pm - 9pm - Intro to Students for a Democratic Society - Weyerhaeuser Boardroom
8pm - 10pm- Wellness Space - Chapel Basement
9pm - 10pm - Mass Meeting - Kagin
[We are sure Brian Rosenberg is loving it.]
also moved: Convergence Center hours: http://twincities.indymedia.org/2008/aug/convergence-space-open-hours
And a duplicate event hidden.

Media spin notes: the realistic perspective on property destruction
* According to mainstream media, smashed windows are the worst thing anyone could possibly do in town; however the housing collapse which equals thousands of smashed windows every day is totally cool & not a crime at all. Way to go, serious adults! Your rationalizations never cease to depress us. [Plus, Wall Street & the Federal Reserve System can launder $100 billion in drug money annually and no one gets in trouble - well done, media!]